Improvement in propelling-apparatus



. invented cert-ain new and usci ...mwc.

sind (tia www S. D CARPENTER, OF

MADISON, WISCONSIN.

Letters Patent No. 85,789, eluted Jan'uwry 12, 1869.

IMPROVEIIIENT IN PROPELLING-APPARATUS.

Tho Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, S. D. CARPENTER, of Madison,

in the county of Dane, and State of Wisconsin, have lul Improvements in Dcvices for Propelling and Ventilating Vessels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

.exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makin f part of this specifica.- tion, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like letters indicating like part-s wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in tin` art to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

My invention relates to an improved method of applying power to the propulsion of vessels, whereby the power is applied more directly to the water, andthe use ofwheels, and all the intermediate machinery for operating the same, is dispensed with, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of a portion of a vessel, with my improvement applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an end view of a portion of the propolling-device detached.

It is well known that in thc ordinary method of pro` pelling steam-vessels, by means of paddle-wheels or by screws, a large amount of machinery is uscd to tra-nsmit the power iiom the cylinder of the steam-engine to the wheel or screw, as thc one or the other is used.

This not only necessitates great expense, but is objectionable for the reasons, also, that the machinery adds greatly to the weight of the vessel, reduces its carrying and stowing-capacities, and because, also, a very large percentage ofthe power of thc exigirle is absorbed by the friction of the various parts of thi` machinery.

fIo obviate these objections is the object ol' my invention, and to accomplish so desirable a result, I construct my propelling-imparatus as follows:

I locate in the hold, near the stern of the vessel A, a steam-cylinder, B, having a piston, b, with a hollow stem or piston-rod, E, this rod extending through the rear end of the cylinder B, into another cylinder C, placed immediately at its rear, as shown in iig. l, this rear cylinder C having its roar end iiush with the stern ofthe vessel, 0r protruding slightly therefrom.

In this rear cylinder C, l place a piston or plunger,

D, which is attached to the roar end ofthe piston-rod E, as shown, the plunger l) having a holol extending lengthwise through its centre, and forming a continuation ofthe oriiice through the tubular piston-rod E.

At the rear end of the plunger D, I make a small recess or chamber, in which I place a valve, a, so arranged that when the plunger is thrust out into the Water, as shown in red, the valve c will closc thc opening passing tluough v.thc plunger' D, but will open it as the plunger D is drawn in.

I propose also to cxtcmlonc or more tubes from thc front end ofcylindcr O, through the shell of the vessel,

to the water outside, said tube extending forward, and .iithcr downward, as shown in fig. 1, or laterally, as may he found most expedient.

'l.hesc l-providcI with a check-valve, e, arranged to lct tho water tlow in through thc tube to the cylinder, but prcvcnt it from returning by the saine channel.

ln constructing the cylinder (l, and its plunger or piston D, l so make them, as, that while the latter has a good bearing in the former, there shall still, be left between them a. space of greater or less capacity,

:extending most of thc way around the plunger.

In the drawings, l have represented this as being cliccted by making thc plunger D with ascries of longitudinal ribs, c, proiecting radially from its sides, as represented more clearly in lig. 2. turned or pla-ned off, to 4present a true and smooth bearing-surface, they thus serving as guides for keeping,r the plunger concentric with thc cylinder, and leaving spaces or passages between the plunger and cylindel.

It is obvious that the ribs c may be made on the Y inner surface ofthe .cylinder C, with the saine effect.

With au apparatus thus constructed, it will be seen v that when steam is applied in tho usual way to the cylinder B, so as to drive thc plunger D out of its cylinder, the plunger will act direct against the water, and thus exert tho full `power of the steam (minus onlythc friction of these two parts) to propel the vessel forward. As the plunger D is shoved out, the space behind it in the cylinder C is lled by Water entering through thc pipe or tubes F, and, as the plunger D is drawn in by the return stroke ofthe piston b, the valve e closes, and the water in the cylinder O will be driven out through thel spaces or passages between the ribs c with great force and rapidity, and thus also assist to propel the vessel.

At the` saine time, if the speed ofthe plunger D, on its return stroke, together with the forward motion of the vessel, should be sutlicient to create a vacuum behind the plunger in the water, this is instantly illed, or, rather, prevented by air iiowiug from the interior of the vessel through thc tubular piston-rod E, the valve a permitting the air to pass out through the plunger, but preventing water from entering through the same. This will also thus veliect a thorough expulsion of all the foul air or gases from the hold, and

importance.

In some casos, whcrc ventilation may n0t-be so essential, I propose to cxtcnd a tube from the bow of the vessel backward, and connect it, by any suitable means, with the tubular piston-rod E, and thus per- `mit water instead of air to pass out through the plunger D.

By these means, I obtain au extremelysimple and ctiicicnt means of propelling vessels, doing away with the great bulk of the machinery ordinarily used, and

These ribs are thus thoroughly ventilato the same-an object ofgreat` Y thereby decreasing the weight, and, et the same time, increasing the carrying-capacity of the vessel und the amount of the power utilized.

I also, ut the sinne time, obviate the tendency to u loss of power by the forming of u vacuum behind the plunger, zuid, by the sume operation, effect :t thorough ventilation of thelvessel.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I cluiln, is-

l. The plunger D, arranged to project from its cylinder or ense C through the shell of the vessel, and act direct upon the Water, substantially its and for the purpose setl forth.

2. The construction of the plunger D and its case 

